Pt-anoorai li co



F. E. HOWARD.

HOLLOW DOOR AND FITTINGS THEREFOR.

APPUCATIQN FILED MAR. 2,19H- 1531 6,896. Patent-ed Sept. 23, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses. Inventor Fmnk EfHow'ard 4174/, 5 m fitty.

F. E. HOWARD. HOLLOW 0008 AND FITTINGS THEREFOR.

APPUCATION flLEb MAR. 2. IBM.

2 nventor FrankEHowarol By My.

Witnesses ANOGIMII C0., WASHINGTON. O- C- F. E. HOWARD.

HOLLOW D OOR AND FITTINGS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAPLZ, 19H- 1 316,896. PatentedSept. 23, 1919.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I uFRmam mafia.

Inventor Frank? E. Howard By fifty Witnesses.

4 SHEETS SHEET 4. 42

v F. E. HOWARD. HOLLOW 000R AND FITUNGS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. 191 I.

1,3 1 6,896. Patented Sept. 23, 191-9. w/

five/2502 fiaizz? Eiffaward UNITED s ATEs PATENT OFFICE.

IRAN K E. HOWARD, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNjOR T0 JAMES L, HOWARD & COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

HOLLOW noon AND riminos THEREFOR Specification of Letters l'atent.

Patented Sept.-23, 1919.

Application filed March 2, 1911. Serial No. 611,778.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hollow Doors and Fittings Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved construction for hollow doors and their fittings, the general objects being to provide for attaching locks, latches, hangers and other fittings to the shell portion of such doors, with the attached parts partly outside and partly inside of the shell; to provide for applying such looks or fittings-to the doors with ease and certainty inexact working alinement, without the exercise of any particular knowledge or skill on the part of the workmen; and generally to provide for the proper attaclnnent, support and Working of such fittings with a predetermined and minimum amount of cutting away of the shell, in which the strength of such a door wholly resides, such apertures or other cuttings being as few and as small as possible, and disposed so as not to make a continuous or nearly connected line of weakness. Provision isalso made in this invention for designing, shaping and proportioning the interior mechanism of the door, in such a way that itmay be inserted and supported through a relatively small aperture or apertures in the door shell, and for closing the said aperture or apertures by means of the last piece inserted, so that the fittings for which cutting away of the shell is necessary, serve to ultimately restore, and under some conditions to augment whatever strength of the shell may have been sacrificed by that cutting away.

Most of the door locks heretofore made have been designed for use upon wooden doors, and are unsuited for metal doors of the hollow shell construction herein referred to. In fitting such looks into a wooden door, the lock parts are seated in and upon, and are directly supported by the solid internal body structure of the door, the interior mechanism generally fitting into a mortise cut into the wood, and the exterior portions, such as the door plates, knobs and handles, being attached to the exterior sides or faces of the door, the solid body of the door, andv the knowledge and skill of the workman be ing relied upon to support andcorrelate the:-

interior and exterior parts in suitable register and alin'em'ent. Whereas, in the case of thehollov'v metal doors contemplated in the present invention, there is no interior body for tlnis supporting the parts, which must therefore be attached to the shell of the door, which in the case of a sheet steel door is sometimes only about one-twentieth of an inch thick. In this invention the hollow interior of the shell construction is utilized only for housing or incl'os'in'g the lock mechanism, without supporting it, the support beinglprovided by the shell of the door.

oreover, the present invention enables the hollow interior of the door to be utilized in making the interior parts of the look as large as may be desired for their working strength or Wear whereas the interior mechanism of locks intended for wooden doors was often reduced in size, and cramped in its working relatiombecause of the necessity of reducing to a minimum the cutting away and consequent weakening, of the wooden door structure. According to the present invention,"the interior mechanism may be made amply large for strength, and extended for freedom of action; but is designed. and proportioned so as to be admittedto the interior of the door through relatively small apertures therein in as many sections as maybe found desirable, the last seetionto be entered being utilized for closing the said aperture.

The embodiments of my present invention selected for illustration herein are especially adapted for use in steel railway car construction, now rapidly coming into use. The doors now seemingly preferred for this service are double, made to slide toward and from each other, locking together in their central meeting position. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is equally applicable to doors, windows and similar ad uncts, whether mounted for sliding or swingingv movement, and. whether single or double. For simplicity of illustration and description, the doors are herein shown to have only a single uniform thickness of shell. It will be obvious, however, that the invention is equally applicable to hollow doors, windows, etc, of various constructions, including those in which the shell may be double at some or all portions, or reinforced at particular portions either by sheet metal orcast reinforcements or linings.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan View,

and Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one form of my invention applied to a pair of sliding doors of the hollow shell construction referred to. Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations illustrating the procedure of inserting the detached interior lock mechanism into the left hand door of Figs. 1 and 2, the shell of the door being shown in crosssection.

Fig. 5 is an edge view partly in crosssec tion, of the said left hand door and its latch mechanism showing how the various parts, after being assembled, are connected and attached to each other and to the door shell. Figs. 6 and 7 are edge views of the left and right hand doors, respectively, of Figs. 1 and 2, showing their surface appearance when the lock or latch mechanisms are attached.

Fig. 8 is a side view and Fig. 9 a plan view showing a modified construction and arrangement in which the interior latch or look mechanism is made in a plurality of separate parts or sections. In Fig. 8 the side plate and shell nearest to the observer are omitted to show the inserted lock parts more clearly.

Fig. 10 is an edge view partly in crosssection on the line 10-10 of Fig. 8, showing some details of the means for connecting and securing the parts together. Fig. 11 is a side view, and Fig. 12 an edge view of the door of Figs. 8, 9 and 10, showing further details of construction and arrangement.

Fig. 13 is a side view, and Fig. 14: an edge view of the shell of the left hand door of Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, showing the apertures in the shell employed for the insertion and support of the lock or latch mechanism. Fig. 15 is an edge view, and Fig. 16 a side view of the shell of the right hand door shown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing the apertures in that shell employed for the insertion and attachment of the striker parts shown in those figures. Fig. 17 is a side view, and Fig. 18 an edge view of the shell of the door shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, showing the apertures employed for the insertion of the lock parts and fittings shown in those figures. Fig. 19 is a sectional plan view showing the two doors of Figs. 1 and 2 close together, and illustrating the interlocking relation of the doors and their latch mechanism. Fig. 20 is a plan view of the right hand door of Figs. 1 and 2, shown partly in section, to illustrate the method of locating and attaching the respective parts. Fig. 21 is a plan view of a pair of doors, the meeting edges of which are rabbeted together,

In this invention, the lock mechanism, or other fitting to be applied to a door or window, forms a firm integral structure when assembled, independently of the door or window structure to which it is to be applied. Hence, although made in separable sections for convenience of manufacture, and to facilitate applying it to a door or window, it comes together again, when applied in final position, as a unitary structure, without relying upon the door or window structure to connect or correlate the respective parts.

I11 the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the doors 1 and 2 are of a paneled construction, thus combining lightness with strength, and also enabling glass to be used in the panels as at 3, when desired. The stile or rail portions 4: of the doors are shown to be utilized as a frame for receiving and inclosing most of the interior lock and latch mechanism. The meeting edges of the door may be tongued, or beaded, or rabbeted in various ways to fit each other closely, so as tocenter or support each other when closed, as well as to shut out the elements, and flying dust, smoke and cinders.

The handle and lock mechanism is here shown to be separable into three parts or sections, carried by the side plates 7, and the lock casing 12, respectively. The handlesG are attached to the side plates 7, the lower ends of the handles being connected to the squared operating spindle S, which is pivotally supported on the side plates, and serves as an operating connection between the handle 6 and the latch 9. In the construction herein shown, the upper ends of the swinging handles 6 are connected together for swinging movement by means of a coupling rod 10, which is preferably of an offset or Ushaped form, as shown in Figs. 5 and 12, so as to enable a screen to be interposed between the openings in the side plates, and thus avoid a direct opening en tirely through the door. The door lock mechanism herein selected for illustration of the present invention is in a general way similar to that shown and described in Letters Patent No. 9%,510, granted to me J an. 4, 1910, the details of which are not essential to this invention, and therefore need not be further described herein.

That portion of the lock mechanism which is to be disposed inside of the shell of the door is mounted in one or more separate cases or frames. In the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2 this interior lock mechanism is, as shown in Figs. 3 and 41:, mounted in a single frame or casing 12, which is here shown to be of a boX-like form, for cont-aining the interior parts, which may be provided with a cover 13, held on by screws 14. This interior lock casing is so designed and proportioned as to make it of relatively small cross-section throughout its length, so that it may be inserted in an endwise direction through a relatively small orifice 15, made preferably in the edge of the door, as shown in Fig. 14. In this arrangen'ient, the lock casing is longest in a vertical direction, and is turned upon its edge in order to instuds 22' on the other side.

science sert it. through the-orifice 15, as in Fig. 3, in which it is shown to be almost fully entered. From the position shown in this figure, the lock is turned and raised up to its final resting' position, shown. in Fig. 4%,, in which it is connected with the exterior side plates 7, by means oi! suitableconnections entered through the openings 16, 17, 18' andlh in the shell of the door, shown separately in Fig. 13. this final position of the lock casing 12', its edge face- 25, which; projects into and closes" the orifice 15, preferably agrees with the external contour of the edge face of the door, whether bearded or grooved or'ra'hbete'd'.

The principal supporting; connection between the lock casing 12 and the exterior side plates 7 is made by means of the studs 22, which project from on or both f the side plates 7 through the openings 1*6- in the door shell, and into or through the openings 20 in the: lock casing 12. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the studs 22' project from one of the side plates 7, through the openings 16', and are joined or connected to the other side plates 7 by means of screws 23, extending through the bosses 21, the end of the stud 22' being preferably seated in the boss 21, as shown in Fig. 1'. These four studs thus securely connect and hold together the interior and exterior parts of the mechanism when assembled, thereby holdin the respective parts in uitable alinement, so that the squared opening 24, and the key opening I9 of the lock casing 12, will necessarily bein exact and unvarying register and alinement with the external orifices 1.7 and 19, respectively, of the door shell, to facilitate the ready entrance and proper working of the squared operating spindle 8, the coupling rod 10 and the key. The openings 11 and 18* in the door shell are located in such relation to the lock casing as to allow the coupling rod 10 to be mo 'edl through its proper operating positions.

In case the thickness of the lock casing is less than the distance between the inner side walls of the door, as shown in Fig. 7, it is generally desirable to hold the lock casing in a particular position, usually a central position, relative to the thickness of the door, as herein shown. In such instances, the casing may be arranged to slide on the studs '22., and be adjusted to properposition in the door by means of screws, or spacing pieces. 13 prefer, however, to predetermine the correct position without leaving it adjustable, confining it between the bosses 21 on one side, and the shoulders 28 of the Thus the interior lock mechanism rigidly and accurately support-ed exactly in its desiredfposition relative to the door, in all directions, without any adjustment on the part of the workman who fits the locks to the doors.

All the coiiperating parts of the door and the lock are or may be accurately drilled and otherwise exactly adapted for each other in the processes of their manufacture, so that they may be correctly assembled on and with the door, without any adjustment, by a workman of only ordinary skill.

One of these doors, like the left-hand door l, provided with lock mechanism, may be em loy'ed as a single door, being slid back an forth by means of its operating handies 6, and fastened in its closed position by means of the latch 9 engaging with a suitable striker or detent at the side of the door casing. Or the invention be applied to double doors, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a striker plate 35- being in that case appurtenant to the cooperating door 1. When thus used as double doors, it is generally desirable to have them both of the same external appearance, including their lock I and operating appurtenances, for which reason a pair of these look mechanisms is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to be symmetrically arranged and paired.

The handles 30 of the right hand door 1, when intended for use" merely as door handles,and not for use as levers for op erating lock mechanism, are firmly attached to the side plates 31 in any convenient way, as by means of screws or rivets; and those side plates are" att ched to the shell of the door 1 by means of studs or posts 31, ex tending through apertures 36 in one side shell of the door, into bosses 34: of the other side plate, which bosses extend through th similar openings 36 in the other side shell of thedoor, the two plates being secured to gether by screws 32', as shown. in Figs. 1 and 2, this construction being similar to that employed for securing together the plates 7, in the door 2, shown in those figures.

The striker 35' for coiiperating with the latch 9 is herein shown to be supported from the side plates 31. The striker itself is preferably made of case-hardened steel, and when employed upon a lock, the exposed parts of which are made of another metal, the striker plate is seated in, and preferabl-Zy riveted to a holder or carrier 37 made of that other metal, which is inserted through the aperture 38 in the edge of the door, and is secured to the side plates 3-1 by means of screws or dowels 39, Seated at its ends in the bosses 40 of the sideplates 31, which project through the apertures ll in the side shells of the door. This con struction is best shown in Figs. 2, 20 and In Figs. 8 to 12' inclusive is shown a modi fication of this invention, in which the interior lock orlatch mechanism is disposed in two separate casingshl and 52, the construction and interior arrangement of which maybe of any form suited for their purposes. The exterior form and dimensions ill) of these casings are so proportioned, however, as to enable them to Pass through a relatively small opening 53 in the edge of the door shell 54:, which is shown separately in Figs. 17 and 18, the opening 53 being ultimately closed by the outer edge 55 of the casing 52 last to be inserted, the face of which is preferably of a contour corresponding to the edge of the door.

In this construction the lock casings are shown to be supported by means of studs or dowels 58 and 59, the ends of which are in turn supported in bosses 60 and 61, which are appurtenant to the side plates 62 and 63, respectively. One end of the studs or dowels may be threaded, as here shown. The bosses 60 and 61 for supporting the lock casing 51 project through the aperture 65 in the shell of the door, while the bosses 66 for the supporting stud 59 of the lock casing 52 project through the apertures 67. The main bosses 69, which form the bearings for the operating handles 70 and their connecting squared operating spindle 71 are herein shown to extend through the apertures 67, which are here shown of a size and shape to accommodate both of the said bosses 66 and 69, although obviously separate apertures may be made when their distance apart makes it desirable. In this instance the supporting stud 59 is made to serve also as the pivot pin for the latch 73. The casing 51 is shown to be supported by two of the studs 58, while the casing 52 is supported by the stud 59 and the spindle 71, supplemented by the edge 55 of the lock casing fitting closely in the aperture 53 of the edge of the door. It will be obvious, however, that any desired number or arrangement of these supporting dowels may be employed, according to the size or weight, or strength required in each particular case.

The plates 62 and 63 are themselves securely doweled to the door shell and to each other by means of studs or bosses 76, appurtenant to these plates, which extend through apertures 78 in the shell of the door (Figs. 10 and 17) and are attached together by means of screws 77. This construction is, or may be, similar to that shown in the previous figures.

In this construction, when assembling the parts, the side plate 62 is preferably first placed in position with its inwardly projecting hubs or bosses 60, 69 and 7 6 extending through theapertures 65, 67 and 78, respectively, in the shell of the door. Then the lock casing 51 is passed in through the orifice 53 and moved sidewise to its position shown in Fig. 8, in which it is supported by inserting the studs or dowels 58 through the apertures 65 in the opposite side of the door shell, from which the side plate 63 is left off for the more convenient assembling of the parts. The lower lock casing 52 is then inserted through the opening 53 and moved to position shown in Fig. 8, in which it is similarly secured to and registered with the inwardly projecting bosses 66 and 69 of the side plate 62, by means of studs or dowels 59 and the squared operating spindle 71.

l/Vhen an offset coupling bar or pin 80 is employed for connecting to ether the two swinging ends of the handles 'lO, it is preferably inserted before securing the adjacent lock casing 51 in position, since portions of that lock casing are preferably made, as herein shown, to project into the offset portion of the coupling bar 80, forming a screen to shut oil direct view through this portion of the door and its mechanism.

Then the remaining side plate 63 is put in position, with its inwardly extending bosses 61, 66 and 69 fitting around the studs 58 and 59, and the operating spindle 71; and is secured in position by means of the screws 77, screwed into the studs 76, thus holding the two side plates firmly together against the outer side of the shell, and holding the lock casings 51 and 52 securely between the ends or shoulders of the inwardly projecting bosses 60, 61, 66, 69 and 70. Thus these lock casings 51 and 52 are in effect doweled directly to and held between the side plates 62 and 63, and the latter are in turn both doweled and clamped to the door shell, making an extremely rigid girder-like structure extending over the entire area of the door shell containing the apertures, and thus ultimately reinforcing rather than weakening the door.

The coupling bars 10 and 80 are preferably offset within the door, as shown in Figs. 5 and 12, to an extent somewhat greater than the vertical width of the slots 11, 18 and 81 in the door shell through which those coupling bars pass. In case it is desired to allow these coupling bars to be withdrawn without removing the lock casing, one of the slots 11, 18, or 81 may be recessed at its upper side as at 26 (Fig. 13) sufficiently to allow the offset portion of the coupling bar to be drawn through the recess, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The upper portion of the lock casing adjacent to the slots 11, 18 and 81 may be so shaped or extended by means of ribs or fins 27, which in conjunction with the lock bolt 29 extend above the' level of the slots 11 and 18, as to form screens to shut off the direct line of sight through those slots. The bolt 29 is intended to be operated by a key through the key-opening 19. When raised, the bolt serves to lock the coupling bar 10, as shown in Fig. 4, thus locking the handles 6, and thereby preventing the latch 9 from being raised by those handles to un adjacent to those corners.

lock the door. Preferably, however, as shown in Fig. 8, the latch, which in that figure is numbered .73, is independently mounted, being thus left free to be raised by the closing movement of the door, even when the handles are locked. So that even if the doors should be locked when in their open position, they will, upon being closed, lock together, and cannot then be opened without a key.

The various apertures in the door shell herein shown for receivin the fittings should be made therein during the manufacture of the door in the factory, by means of drilling'and milling jigs and gages, which are well-known. These apertures may thus be made with extreme accuracy, so that the looks or other fittings, also made with similar accuracy by means of other jigs and gages, will, when assembled with the door shell, fit easily and closely into their proper places, and not elsewhere, thus making it practically impossible for the locks or fittings to be incorrectly applied to the doors, and thereby placing the responsibilityin the lock manufactory, where it more properly belongs, and where control can more easily and certainly be exercised than it can be by the builders or assemblers of the doorsor cars. c

As shown in Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive, the apertures in the door shell are located away from the corners of the door so as to leave a substantial width of the metal at and This avoids weakening the corner angles of the shell, which obviously add greatly to the stiffness of the hollow box-like form of the doorstile, While the construction and arrangement of the inserted fittings enable them to extend behind the uncut walls and interior angles of the door shell and yet be wellsupported by the posts or other extensions projecting through apertures made well away from these corners.

In Fig. 21 is shown a plan view of a pair of doors 84 and 85, the meeting edges of which are of another sinuous contour, being rabbeted to lap together, the edge faces 86 and 87 of the interior lock casings or other inserted parts 88 and 89 being of a similar rabbeted contour, making those faces described as applied to' the other, instead of supporting both separately imdi-fi'erent seats in the door; and thusreplylng upon the door maker to make these seats in proper relation to each other 1. The combination, with a door, of door fittings made in separable sections insertible and removable from different portions of the door, one of the sections being supported and positioned in all directions within the .door by another of the sections.

2;The combination, with a door, of door fastening devices, made in interlocking separable sections, einsertible and removable from different faces of the door, whereby one of the sections when inserted in the door 'from one direction is supported in worklng position and against removal by another of the sections projecting within thedoor from a different angular direction.

3 The combination, with a door, of fastenlng mechanism inserted in the edge face of the door, and a supporting member secured an outer side face of the door, and pro ecting into the door to position and support the fastening mechanism.

4. The combination, with a door, of separable door fittings disposed partly inside of and partly outside of the door, the inside fittings being supported and positioned in all directions by portions of the outside fittings extending within the door through openings in the door smaller than the pro-- jected area of the supported fittings.

5. The combination, with a door of hollow shell construction, of door fastening mechan sm disposedwithin the shell and supporting members disposedi on the outside of the door shell and extending through the shell through apertures in the shell smallerthan the projected area of the said mechanism to support the door fastening mechanism .and also position it between the side plates of the door shell.

6. The combination, of a door of the described hollow shell construction, and lock mechanism for the interior of the door, the door shell being provided with an entrance aperture for inserting the said mechanism located at one side of the projected area of the inserted lock mechanism when the latter is in its final position.

7. The combination with a door of the described hollow shell construction, of lock mechanism including a pivoted latch for the interior of the door, and supporting means for the latch pivot secured to the outer side of the door and extending inwardly through the door shell.

8. The combination, with a door of the described hollow shell construction, of lock mechanism for the interior of the door, the

door shell being provided with an entrance aperture located at one side of the projected area of the lock mechanism when the latter is in its working position, whereby the lock mechanism after being inserted through the said aperture is moved sidewise to its working position, in which a portion of the inserted mechanism extends outside of the projected area of its entrance aperture.

9. The combination, with door fastenlng mechanism, of a door of the described hollow shell construction, provided with apertures for admitting said door fastening mechanism to the interior of the shell, supporting members disposed on the outer surface of the door, and extending through apertures in the said shell and supporting the interior door fastening mechanism, the said supporting members and the said interior door fastening mechanism closing the said apertures when in final position.

10. The combination of a door of the described hollow shell construction, provided with apertures in its edge and side walls, fastening mechanism adapted to be entered through an edge aperture, and to be disposed within the door shell, closing said aperture when in its resting position, and a supporting plate disposed on the outer side of one of the side walls of the door with projections extending through the apertures in the said side wall for supporting and operating the said fastening mechanism.

11. The combination, with fastening mechanism, of a door of the described hollow shell construction provided with an aperture in its edge portion for the entrance of the said fastening mechanism, side plates appurtenant to the outer surfaces of the door and supporting the said fastening mechanism in position, with one of the faces of the fastening mechanism closing the said entrance aperture in the edge of the door.

12. The combination of a door of the described hollow shell construction provided with edge and side apertures, fastening mechanism disposed within the door, with one of its faces closing an edge aperture of the door, and supporting members extending through the said side apertures, and supporting the said mechanism.

13. The combination of a door of the described hollow shell construction provided with edge and side apertures, fastening mechanism disposed in separate sections in the interior of the door, with one of their faces closing the edge aperture of the door, and side plates having projections extending through the said side apertures and supporting the said interior sections of the fastening mechanism.

14:. The combination of a door of the described hollow shell construction, and lock mechanism for the interior of the door, the door shell being provided with an entrance aperture for the lock mechanism smaller than the projected area of the lock mechanism entered therethrough, when the latter is in its final position.

15. The combination of a door of the described hollow hell construction, provided with an aperture in its edge portion, and lock mechanism for the interior of the door, the edgewise area of which is greater than the projected area of the opening, whereby the mechanism may be entered through the said opening in one direction and then moved in a different direction to its working posi tion within the door.

16. The combination of a door of the described hollow shell construction having an opening in its edge wall, and lock mechanism which in its resting position presents an area toward the edge of the door greater than those of the said opening, and having other dimensions less than the said opening, which latter dimensions permit of its entrance through the said opening.

17. The combination, with a door of the described hollow shell construction, provided with apertures in its shell, of door fittings made in separable sections, one of which is supported within the door shell upon portions of other of said sections mounted on the outer sides of the door shell, and projecting within the shell through some of the said apertures, an operating rod extending from the said outer sections through other of the said apertures, and offset within the shell in operative relation to the inner section, the last named apertures being larger than the said rod, and the said inner section extending into the offset portion of the operating rod to screen the said apertures for the rod.

18. The combination, with a door of the described hollow shell construction, provided with apertures in its shell, of latch mechanism made in separable sections, one of which is supported within the door shell upon portions of other of said sections mounted on the outer sides of the door shell, and projecting within the shell through some of said apertures, operating handles mounted on the outside sections, and an ofiset coupling rod carried by the said handles and extending through other of said apertures in the door shell, enlarged to permit the operating movements of the coupling rod, the said inner section extending past the said enlarged apertures to screen them and the said coupling rod being offset within the door shell over the said screening portions of the interior section.

19. The combination of a door which is hollow adjacent to one edge thereof and which has an opening in said edge, a lockpart movable through said opening and movable within the door away from said opening, a second lock-part movable through said opening and means for holding said lock parts in position Within the door with said second lock-part closing the said opening through the edge of the door, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination of a door consisting of hollow sheet-metal rails and panels secured thereto, one of said rails having an opening in the edge thereof, a key-lock movable through said opening and movable within the rail in the direction of the length of the rail and away from said opening. a latch-lock movable through said opening and means for securing said locks in position within the rail with said latclrlock closing the said opening in the edge of the rail, ubstantially as set forth.

21. The combination of a door of the described hollow shell construction, a side plate secured to the outer side of the door shell, and provided with supporting means extending through the shell of the door a substantial distance away from the edge of the door, and a pivotally mounted latch carried by said supporting means, and proj ecting toward the edge of the door beyond the entrance of the'said supporting means.

The combination, with a .door, having a hollow box-like shell, of a door fitting disposed partly within the shell and a support therefor seated on the outer side of the door shell and extending through an aperture made a substantial distance away from the corner of the box-like shell, with the fitting projecting forward toward the edge of the door whereby the interior ortion of the fitting is supported, behind t e corner angle of the shell without weakening the corner angle.

23. The combination of a hollow shell door, a swinging latch having a pivot pin located within the door shell adjacent to corner angles of the shell, and supports for the pin secured to the outer side of the door shell and extending within the shell through a portion thereof located away from its con ner angles.

24. The combination of a door of the described hollow shell construction, and latch mechanism for the interior of the .door, the door shell being provided with an entrance aperture for the said mechanism located at one side of the projected area of the latch mechanism when the latter is in its working position, the said latch mechanism including a latch pivotally mounted within the door and pro ecting out of the door through the said entrance aperture.

25. The combination of a hollow shell door having corner angles at its edge portion, an articulated door fitting within the shell adjacent to its said edge portion, and supporting means for the fitting seated on the outer side of the door shell and extending within the shell through an aperture in the shell adjacent to but not reaching its corner portion, whereby the said corner angles of the shell are preserved.

26. The combination, with a door which is hollow adjacent to one edge thereof, and is provided with an aperture in its shell, of door fastening mechanism having a portion extending within the door shell through the said aperture, the mechanism entered through said aperture also projecting sidewise within the door shell beyond the projected area of the aperture.

27. The combination of a door which is hollow adjacent to one edge thereof, and is provided with apertures in the shell, .door fastening mechanism, including a pivotally mounted latch, and a supporting member for the latch seated on the outer surface of the door shell, and projecting through said aperture, the mechanism also extending sidewise within the door shell beyond the projected area of the said aperture.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK E. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

WM. H. Homes, CAROLINE M. BRECKLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

